[aristeides]

From your link: Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires the State Department to run the program, was sponsored by Sen. Teddy Kennedy (D.-Mass.) in 1990 and signed into law by President George Bush.

Anybody remember why Bush the Elder signed this thing?

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Anybody remember why Bush the Elder signed this thing?

May have been part of the Immigration Act signed in 1990 which besides the diversity lottery, raised legal immigration numbers to almost 1 million annually. It was done according to its sponsors as a way of cutting down on illegal immigration by offering more legal visas, but all it did was increase immigration overall because illegals continue to pour in.

Brilliant plan by the eggheads in Washington.

[Greeklawyer]

The goal of the diversity lottery was to balance immigration so no one group would overwhelm our boarders.

The countries which are eligible change with each lottery. Also, the winners still have to file the application. (a felony still disqualifies you)

I wonder what country his wife was from?